Ambition

• Act 1, Scene 4: 'Stars, hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires' 


  Abstract noun 'desire' directly links to the theme of ambition while the adjective 'black' indicates that his ambition is not healthy or good in intention.

  Macbeth's ambition leads him down a dark path.
• Act 1, Scene 5: 'too full o' the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way' 


  Metaphor voices her concerns that Macbeth is too king to do what is necessary to become king (kill Duncan).

  Shows how she is driven my ambition and this is what leads her to her death.
• Act 1, Scene 7: 'To prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself' 


  Macbeth realises he has no reason to ahead with murdering Duncan other than his own great ambition to become king.
• Act 2, Scene 1: 'on thy blade and dudgeon, gouts of blood'


  Blood symbolises guilt showing Macbeth is losing his mind as a result of his ambition to become king.

  Macbeth is physically strong, but lacks mental strength.
• Act 3, Scene 4: 'Never shake thy gory locks at me'


  Adjective 'gory' signifies ghost covered in blood, similar to Macbeth kast hallucination of the dagger.

  Macbeth cannot escape the guilt of the murder as a result of unchecked ambition.

  Blood is an image associated with guilt.